Spontaneous pneumoperitoneum after pneumonia in a child

Diagnosis and treatment of pediatric benign pneumoperitoneum: A case report series of 9 patients

INTRODUCTION

Benign pneumoperitoneum (BPPT) is defined as asymptomatic free intraabdominal air or as pneumoperitoneum without peritonitis. Symptomatic free air requires surgical anagement, but management of asymptomatic pneumoperitoneum is controversial. In this study, we investigate the diagnosis and treatment of BPPT in children.

CLINICAL FINDINGS

The clinical data of 9 pediatric patients with BPPT who were admitted to our hospital from January 2000 to January 2015 were retrospectively analyzed to summarize the diagnosis and treatment. Overall, 9 cases were included with 8 males and 1 female, aged from 4 days to 4 years. Among them there were 6 newborns (including 1 premature infant). Patients were all admitted to hospital with the major clinical symptom of abdominal distension, including 2 cases accompanied by tachypnea, 2 cases with vomiting, 1 case with diarrhea, and 2 cases with fever. No previous constipation or obstructive defecation existed. Six newborns had meconium defecation within 24 hours after birth. Physical examination revealed all patients with relaxed abdominal wall except 1 patient with abdominal distension had slight muscle stiffness and hyperactive bowel sounds. Abdominal X-ray suggested free air under the diaphragm in all cases.

INTERVENTIONS/OUTCOMES

All patients except for one case of laparotomy were conservatively treated and cured with fasting, infection prevention, rehydration, abdominocentesis, and close observation. Nine cases of patients were all discharged with no death occurrence. After discharge follow-up of 7 months to 6 years was conducted. There was no recurrence of similar symptoms, and children were in good growth and development.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of BPPT mainly relies on clinical symptoms in patient, careful abdominal examination, abdominal X-ray combined with abdominocentesis, and the exclusion of gastrointestinal perforation for confirmation. Conservative treatment can cure the disease. Attention should be paid to distinguish with surgical pneumoperitoneum to avoid unnecessary surgical exploration.

Radiographic signs of gastrointestinal perforation in children: A pictorial review

Plain abdominal radiographs remain an important aid for clinicians in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal perforation, especially in neonates and very sick children where clinical features of peritonitis may not be as prominent. Suggestive radiographic features are not always very obvious, especially when taken in the supine position and may lead to delayed or missed diagnosis. Through a pictorial review of plain radiographs, this article highlights a number of documented features of gastrointestinal perforation on X-ray in the paediatric setting, which increases the accuracy of diagnosis.

An unusual complication of femoral vein catheterisation: pneumoperitoneum

A 2-month-old girl with severe pneumonia required a central venous line. Femoral vein catheterisation was attempted but insertion was difficult. Pneumoperitoneum developed, which is a rare complication of femoral vein catheterisation. It is important when undertaking femoral vein catheterisation to use the correct landmarks in the femoral triangle below the inguinal ligament and an appropriate size of catheter.